The Brazilian Senate’s Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) has removed a controversial provision from Public Security bill PEC 18/2025. The decision preserves betting-linked funding for the national sports sector, preventing an estimated annual loss of R$500 million (approximately $98 million USD).
Details of the Rejected Proposal
The original draft passed by the Chamber of Deputies sought to restructure the distribution of taxes collected from fixed-odds betting:
- 30% of betting revenues were to be redirected to the National Public Security Fund (FNSP) and the National Penitentiary Fund (FUNPEN).
- Senator Rogério Carvalho opposed the cut in his report, arguing that public security initiatives already possess alternative funding streams.
- Eliminating the clause maintains the allocation framework established by Law No. 13.756/2018, securing vital funds for athlete development and grassroots training.
The "Mourning for Sport" Campaign
The CCJ’s decision followed intense lobbying by the Brazilian sports community. The Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) and the National Confederation of Clubs (FENACLUBES), representing over 11,000 community clubs, led the mobilization. They were joined by the Brazilian Olympic and Paralympic Committees.
Sports leaders presented impact studies to government officials to demonstrate the financial damage the cuts would cause. FENACLUBES president Arialdo Boscolo emphasized that these revenues are crucial for job creation and local community services. The sports industry must now sustain its lobbying efforts as the bill moves to the Senate Plenary for a final vote.
